The object
Fred Bould co-designed the physical Nest Learning Thermostat, including the rotating stainless-steel ring and integrated display that made interaction resemble turning a conventional dial. Red Dot credits Bould Design on the award-winning hardware. Bould’s current studio writing documents the firm’s work with Nest and its ongoing industrial-design practice.
What Fred did
co-designed the Nest Learning Thermostat’s physical enclosure, rotating stainless-steel ring, display, and user interface through Bould Design
Why it matters
Nest’s physical interface made a connected thermostat visually and operationally familiar, helping turn smart-home hardware into a mainstream design object.
Living-status check
Bould’s current studio article was publicly available in July 2026 and identifies him as founder and design director.